EP0618059B1 - Method for manufacturing an extrusion profile with variable properties along its length and catheters made in accordance with this method - Google Patents

Method for manufacturing an extrusion profile with variable properties along its length and catheters made in accordance with this method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0618059B1
EP0618059B1 EP94200875A EP94200875A EP0618059B1 EP 0618059 B1 EP0618059 B1 EP 0618059B1 EP 94200875 A EP94200875 A EP 94200875A EP 94200875 A EP94200875 A EP 94200875A EP 0618059 B1 EP0618059 B1 EP 0618059B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
streams
section
catheter
bands
extrusion profile
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94200875A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0618059A1 (en
Inventor
Johannes Bos
Frans Mous
Johannes Gerardus Maria Van Muiden
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Cordis Europa NV
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Cordis Europa NV
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Publication of EP0618059A1 publication Critical patent/EP0618059A1/en
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M25/00—Catheters; Hollow probes
    • A61M25/0009—Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/09—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/16—Articles comprising two or more components, e.g. co-extruded layers
    • B29C48/18—Articles comprising two or more components, e.g. co-extruded layers the components being layers
    • B29C48/19—Articles comprising two or more components, e.g. co-extruded layers the components being layers the layers being joined at their edges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C48/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92504—Controlled parameter
    • B29C2948/92561—Time, e.g. start, termination, duration or interruption
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92504—Controlled parameter
    • B29C2948/9258—Velocity
    • B29C2948/9259—Angular velocity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92504—Controlled parameter
    • B29C2948/9258—Velocity
    • B29C2948/926—Flow or feed rate
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92819—Location or phase of control
    • B29C2948/92857—Extrusion unit
    • B29C2948/92876—Feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zones, e.g. the melt itself
    • B29C2948/92885—Screw or gear
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92819—Location or phase of control
    • B29C2948/92857—Extrusion unit
    • B29C2948/92904—Die; Nozzle zone
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/12—Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
    • B29K2105/06—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
    • B29K2105/08—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/753—Medical equipment; Accessories therefor
    • B29L2031/7542—Catheters

Definitions

  • the present application relates to a method for manufacturing a medical device, specifically for internal use, such as a catheter, according to the preamble of claim 1, with variable mechanical properties along the length thereof, such as a varying degree of stiffness.
  • the object of the invention is to improve a method of the type as described in US-A-4276250.
  • the extrusion profile manufactured in accordance with the method according to the invention in cross section has areas of materials of different composition. Along the length of the profile the overall surface area of each of the different types of material may vary and consequently the properties of the extrusion profile will vary.
  • inventions include stents, tubes for introduction of catheters or the like.
  • EP-A-0448886 catheters are described, which are composed of a number of materials distributed evenly in the circumferential direction the catheter.
  • This publication relates to the materials to be used in manufacture of these catheters, where a method for manufacturing these catheters is not disclosed.
  • catheters described in this publication do not have varying mechanical properties in axial direction thereof.
  • the process of the invention together with the preferred measure as set out in claim 3 is especially useful for the manufacture of catheters such as catheters used for angiographic purposes.
  • catheters such as catheters used for angiographic purposes.
  • catheters should be pliable, ie of limited stiffness at the distal end in order to easily follow the course of a blood vessel. More towards the proximal end such a catheter is preferably stiffer in order to convey the pressure, exerted on the catheter on insertion, to its distal end.
  • a material which displays a greater stiffness than the other materials used could for instance be a solid material such as a fibre bundle.
  • a fibre bundle can easily be incorporated in the extrusion profile during the extrusion process.
  • Another embodiment of the method of the invention is characterised in claim 5.
  • the advantage of using streams of molten material is that it is not only easy to turn certain streams off but just as easy to turn these on. In the case of a stream of solid material this is more difficult to achieve.
  • By only using streams of molten material it is possible to produce within one length of extrusion profile a number of sections of which the properties alter in the same manner.
  • the invention relates to and also provides catheters manufactured by a method in accordance with the invention.
  • These catheters according to claim 6 are characterised in that at least partly the wall consists of longitudinal bands of material of different composition.
  • each band containing the stiffer material can for instance be reduced longitudinally while the cross-section of an adjoining band containing less stiff material increases correspondingly.
  • the number of bands made up of a stiffer material could be reduced gradually towards the distal end of the catheter.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically the manufacturing method of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows an extrusion profile manufactured by the method of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross-section at III-III in fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross-section at IV-IV in fig. 2.
  • Fig. 5 and 6 show two other extrusion profiles manufactured by the method of the invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically an extrusion device which can be used to carry out the method of the invention.
  • This device 1 comprises a moulding-nozzle 2 in which the extrusion profile 3 is formed.
  • the embodiment of the method as described here involves the use of streams of material of two different compositions.
  • Each of the materials is placed in an extruder 4 at the correct degree of liquidity and at the right pressure required for extrusion.
  • the material coming from the first extruder 4 is conveyed, through line 5, to a distribution line 7. From this distribution line a number of lines 9 branch off, each of which can convey a stream of material.
  • the second extruder 4 leads to a line 6, also connected to a distribution line 8 which, in its turn links up with a number of lines 10 conveying separate streams of material.
  • fig. 1 shows there are in this embodiment twelve, in the circumferential direction of the tube-like profile 3 distributed streams of material of two different compositions.
  • the different materials can be incorporated in a pattern of alternate bands in the wall of profile 3.
  • cut-off valves 11 In each of the lines 9, conveying the streams of material of the first composition, cut-off valves 11 have been arranged. Each of these cut-off valves 11, can be controlled by means of control lines 12 by a control means 13.
  • the control means 13 can open or close the cut-off valves 11 during the extrusion process in a controlled manner and consequently the streams of material conveyed through the corresponding lines 9 can be turned on and off in a similar controlled manner.
  • the control means 13 can be made to control the extruders 4 as well.
  • the opening and closing of the cut-off valves 11 is preferably programmed in a preset cycle. Manual operation is obviously possible as well.
  • the streams of material through the lines 10 are conveyed continuously and those through the lines 9 can be turned on and off in a controlled manner by the cut-off valves 11.
  • the extrusion profile 3 When the control means 13 closes all cut-off valves 11, the extrusion profile 3 will be made entirely of material conveyed through the lines 10. When a cut-off valve 11 is opened the extrusion profile 3 will contain a longitudinal band made of material coming from the first extruder 4, while the remainder of the cross-section of the profile 3 will be made of material coming from the second extruder 4.
  • the profile will have a cross-section as shown in fig. 4, in which case material 15 and material 16 alternate in a regular fashion in circumferential direction.
  • the extrusion profile By opening and closing the cut-off valves 11 in a controlled manner the extrusion profile will display varying properties in a linear direction corresponding to the properties of the constituent streams of material.
  • the extrusion profile 3 with a cross-section as shown in fig. 3 will be less stiff than a section of the extrusion profile with a cross-section as shown in fig. 4.
  • the stiffness of the extrusion profile can be made to alter gradually in a linear direction.
  • Turning the streams of material on and off can be done either abruptly or gradually. When it is done gradually the cross-section of the band made of the stream of material concerned in the extrusion profile will vary accordingly and thus there will be a more gradual transition of the properties of the material.
  • the section of extrusion profile 19 as shown in fig.5 forms the basic material for a catheter. It is made up of materials of two different compositions.
  • the material of the first composition is, when cooled off, stiffer than that of the second composition.
  • the first section 20 six bands of the first material have been incorporated in between six bands of the second material.
  • This section 20 is therefore stiff comparatively speaking.
  • the second section 21 constitutes a transitional section and contains two bands of the stiff material while the remainder is made up of the less stiff material. During the extrusion process in this example, four streams of the material of the first composition were turned off at the point of transition from the first section to the second section 21.
  • the basic material 24 for a catheter comprises a first section 25 made of a material of a first composition while in the second section a band 27 of a different material has been included. Because of this one band 27 the compliance properties of the basic material have been altered.
  • the basic material 27 has a high tensile stiffness and is made of a fibre bundle for instance, the profile will bend in a particular preferential direction when a longitudinal compressive force is exerted on the end.

Description

  • The present application relates to a method for manufacturing a medical device, specifically for internal use, such as a catheter, according to the preamble of claim 1, with variable mechanical properties along the length thereof, such as a varying degree of stiffness.
  • Such a process for manufacturing a catheter is known from US-A-4276250, where different streams of material are turned on during the extrusion process, so that the extrusion profile is longitudinally made up of sections of varying composition.
  • The object of the invention is to improve a method of the type as described in US-A-4276250.
  • According to the invention this can be achieved with the measures described in the characterising part of claim 1. The extrusion profile manufactured in accordance with the method according to the invention in cross section has areas of materials of different composition. Along the length of the profile the overall surface area of each of the different types of material may vary and consequently the properties of the extrusion profile will vary.
  • Other embodiments of medical devices according to the present invention include stents, tubes for introduction of catheters or the like.
  • In the European patent application no. EP-A-0448886 catheters are described, which are composed of a number of materials distributed evenly in the circumferential direction the catheter. This publication relates to the materials to be used in manufacture of these catheters, where a method for manufacturing these catheters is not disclosed. Furthermore catheters described in this publication do not have varying mechanical properties in axial direction thereof.
  • A simple and effective embodiment of the process is achieved with the measure as set out in claim 2.
  • The process of the invention together with the preferred measure as set out in claim 3 is especially useful for the manufacture of catheters such as catheters used for angiographic purposes. Such catheters should be pliable, ie of limited stiffness at the distal end in order to easily follow the course of a blood vessel. More towards the proximal end such a catheter is preferably stiffer in order to convey the pressure, exerted on the catheter on insertion, to its distal end.
  • A material which displays a greater stiffness than the other materials used could for instance be a solid material such as a fibre bundle. A fibre bundle can easily be incorporated in the extrusion profile during the extrusion process. One could start the extrusion off with for example the maximum number of streams of solid material in the form of fibre bundles whereby, during the course of the extrusion process, these are cut off gradually so that an extrusion profile is formed which is initially stiff comparatively speaking but more pliable towards the end.
  • Another embodiment of the method of the invention is characterised in claim 5. The advantage of using streams of molten material is that it is not only easy to turn certain streams off but just as easy to turn these on. In the case of a stream of solid material this is more difficult to achieve. By only using streams of molten material it is possible to produce within one length of extrusion profile a number of sections of which the properties alter in the same manner.
  • The invention relates to and also provides catheters manufactured by a method in accordance with the invention. These catheters according to claim 6 are characterised in that at least partly the wall consists of longitudinal bands of material of different composition.
  • In order to obtain a desired development of properties in a longitudinal direction the measure as set out in claim 7 is preferably employed. When one wants to vary the stiffness, the cross-section of each band containing the stiffer material can for instance be reduced longitudinally while the cross-section of an adjoining band containing less stiff material increases correspondingly.
  • In stead of causing the total cross-section of the different bands of material to vary while keeping the number of bands constant, one could also vary the number of bands. In the case of a catheter manufactured in accordance with the method of the invention the number of bands made up of a stiffer material could be reduced gradually towards the distal end of the catheter.
  • The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following description with reference to the attached drawings.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically the manufacturing method of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows an extrusion profile manufactured by the method of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross-section at III-III in fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross-section at IV-IV in fig. 2.
  • Fig. 5 and 6 show two other extrusion profiles manufactured by the method of the invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically an extrusion device which can be used to carry out the method of the invention. This device 1 comprises a moulding-nozzle 2 in which the extrusion profile 3 is formed. The embodiment of the method as described here, involves the use of streams of material of two different compositions. Each of the materials is placed in an extruder 4 at the correct degree of liquidity and at the right pressure required for extrusion. The material coming from the first extruder 4 is conveyed, through line 5, to a distribution line 7. From this distribution line a number of lines 9 branch off, each of which can convey a stream of material.
  • The second extruder 4 leads to a line 6, also connected to a distribution line 8 which, in its turn links up with a number of lines 10 conveying separate streams of material.
  • As fig. 1 shows there are in this embodiment twelve, in the circumferential direction of the tube-like profile 3 distributed streams of material of two different compositions.
  • The different materials can be incorporated in a pattern of alternate bands in the wall of profile 3.
  • In each of the lines 9, conveying the streams of material of the first composition, cut-off valves 11 have been arranged. Each of these cut-off valves 11, can be controlled by means of control lines 12 by a control means 13. The control means 13 can open or close the cut-off valves 11 during the extrusion process in a controlled manner and consequently the streams of material conveyed through the corresponding lines 9 can be turned on and off in a similar controlled manner. The control means 13 can be made to control the extruders 4 as well. The opening and closing of the cut-off valves 11 is preferably programmed in a preset cycle. Manual operation is obviously possible as well.
  • The streams of material conveyed through the lines 9 and 10 flow together in the moulding-nozzle 2. After allowing the combined stream of materials to cool off in the usual manner, the extrusion profile 3 has been formed.
  • In the embodiment as shown in fig.1 the streams of material through the lines 10 are conveyed continuously and those through the lines 9 can be turned on and off in a controlled manner by the cut-off valves 11.
  • When the control means 13 closes all cut-off valves 11, the extrusion profile 3 will be made entirely of material conveyed through the lines 10. When a cut-off valve 11 is opened the extrusion profile 3 will contain a longitudinal band made of material coming from the first extruder 4, while the remainder of the cross-section of the profile 3 will be made of material coming from the second extruder 4.
  • This situation is shown in fig. 3, representing a cross-section at III-III in fig. 2. It can be seen that in the annular cross-section of the catheter 3 there is one band 16 made of material from the first extruder, while the rest of the cross-section consists of material 15 from the second extruder.
  • When all cut-off valves 11 have been opened, the profile will have a cross-section as shown in fig. 4, in which case material 15 and material 16 alternate in a regular fashion in circumferential direction.
  • By opening and closing the cut-off valves 11 in a controlled manner the extrusion profile will display varying properties in a linear direction corresponding to the properties of the constituent streams of material. When for instance the material from the first extruder 4 is stiffer when cooled off than the material from the second extruder, the extrusion profile 3 with a cross-section as shown in fig. 3 will be less stiff than a section of the extrusion profile with a cross-section as shown in fig. 4. By varying the number of cut-off valves 11 as desired, the stiffness of the extrusion profile can be made to alter gradually in a linear direction.
  • Turning the streams of material on and off can be done either abruptly or gradually. When it is done gradually the cross-section of the band made of the stream of material concerned in the extrusion profile will vary accordingly and thus there will be a more gradual transition of the properties of the material.
  • The section of extrusion profile 19 as shown in fig.5 forms the basic material for a catheter. It is made up of materials of two different compositions. The material of the first composition is, when cooled off, stiffer than that of the second composition. In the first section 20, six bands of the first material have been incorporated in between six bands of the second material. This section 20 is therefore stiff comparatively speaking. The second section 21 constitutes a transitional section and contains two bands of the stiff material while the remainder is made up of the less stiff material. During the extrusion process in this example, four streams of the material of the first composition were turned off at the point of transition from the first section to the second section 21. At the point of transition from the second section 21 to the third section 22 of the material, one of the two remaining streams of material of the first composition was turned off, so that the third section 22 contains only one band of the stiffer material. Consequently the end-section 22 is considerably more pliable than the first section 20. In addition to a property such as the compliance of the material also other properties can be incorporated in the extrusion profile. The basic material 24 for a catheter for instance, comprises a first section 25 made of a material of a first composition while in the second section a band 27 of a different material has been included. Because of this one band 27 the compliance properties of the basic material have been altered. When the basic material 27 has a high tensile stiffness and is made of a fibre bundle for instance, the profile will bend in a particular preferential direction when a longitudinal compressive force is exerted on the end.
  • Although the above description refers continually to streams of material of two different compositions whereby the streams with a certain composition can be turned on and off at will, the invention is not limited to this. Streams of material with more than two different compositions can be combined and turning the streams of material on and off is not limited to streams of the same composition.

Claims (9)

  1. Method for manufacturing a medical device, specifically for internal use, such as a catheter, formed by a tube-like extrusion profile (3) with an annular cross section and varying mechanical properties in axial direction thereof, comprising:
    - simultaneously conveying a number of divided streams (9,10) of material of at least two different compositions to a moulding nozzle (2), wherein the streams of material (9) of the same composition supplied alternating with those (10) of another composition,
    - making these streams (9,10) flow together in the moulding nozzle (2) whereby at least one of the streams (9,10) can be turned on and/or off in a controlled manner during the extrusion method, and
    - allowing the combined stream of materials to cool off into an extrusion profile,
    characterised in that - the streams (9,10) of material to be conveyed to the moulding nozzle (2) are divided in the circumferential direction of the profile, and
    - in that the streams (9,10) of material of the same composition are distributed evenly in the circumferential direction.
  2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the streams (9, 10) which are turned on and/or off in a controlled manner are streams (9, 10) of material of the same composition.
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compositions of the materials differ in such way that the stiffness of those materials is different in the cooled off state.
  4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the streams (9, 10) is a stream of solid material such as a fibre bundle.
  5. Method according to any of the claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein all streams (9, 10) are streams of molten material.
  6. Catheter with a tube-like extrusion profile (3) manufactured by the method according to any of the preceding claims containing at least one section the wall of which consists of longitudinal bands (16) of material of different composition.
  7. Catheter as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cross-section of at least two adjoining bands (16) varies inversely in longitudinal direction.
  8. Catheter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bands (16) comprise materials of different stiffness and wherein the total cross-section of the bands (16) made of the stiffer material is smaller in the distal end-section of the catheter than in the remaining part.
  9. Catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cross-section and/or the number of bands (16) made of the stiffer material decreases from the proximal to the distal end.
EP94200875A 1993-03-31 1994-03-30 Method for manufacturing an extrusion profile with variable properties along its length and catheters made in accordance with this method Expired - Lifetime EP0618059B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9300572 1993-03-31
NL9300572A NL9300572A (en) 1993-03-31 1993-03-31 Method for manufacturing an extrusion profile with length-varying properties and catheter manufactured therewith.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0618059A1 EP0618059A1 (en) 1994-10-05
EP0618059B1 true EP0618059B1 (en) 1997-10-08

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EP94200875A Expired - Lifetime EP0618059B1 (en) 1993-03-31 1994-03-30 Method for manufacturing an extrusion profile with variable properties along its length and catheters made in accordance with this method

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5456674A (en)
EP (1) EP0618059B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3720062B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69406036T2 (en)
NL (1) NL9300572A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7951116B2 (en) 2004-11-12 2011-05-31 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Selective surface modification of catheter tubing
EP3508324B1 (en) * 2018-01-03 2022-08-10 Lacoplast.IT SRL Co-extrusion plant and method

Families Citing this family (130)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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DE69406036T2 (en) 1998-01-29
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